Crane for handling freight.



H. SAWYBR.

CRANE FOB. HANDLING FREIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED mm 14, 1911.

1,064,383, Patented June 10,1913.

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cum. ron FREIGHT. Y

Specification o1 LettersfP at ent. Application filed July 14, 1911. Serial no. 638,425.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HARRY SAwYER,- a citizen 'of the United States, residing at fication.

The invention relates to-cranes for'hair' dling freight, and particularly to. cranes employed in connection with docks, freight sheds, Piers or the like, for loading and unloading and handling. freight or the like from boats, barges, trains, warehouses, freight sheds and similar purposes.

The object of the invention is to provide means for handling freight or other heavy articles in an expeditious manner by power operated mechanism, and in such manner as to leave the floor of the dock, freight shed, warehouse or the like, unobstructed by the crane or crane tracks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crane and a support therefor in such relation with respect to each other, that the crane boom or jib may be readily swung into position to permit the same 'to clear. the rigging of a ship or boat lying alongside a dock, or pier, or, to clear the structure which supports the crane, while the latter is being shifted from one position to another, and wherein, when theboom or jib is in position for operation in the handling of freight, merchandise or other cargo, the load to be handled thereby may be delivered without obstruction to or from points within or beneath the crane supporting structure, that is, underneath the roof of the shed, pier or dock cover, warehouse. or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide roof sections or portions associated with the crane structure and adapted to pro tect the dock, pier, shed, orthe like, from rain at points beyond the edge of the shed roof where the crane is in operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing,'Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a cargo ha -dling crane and its supporting frame work, embodying the principles of'my invention, parts-broken ofi. 2'is a detail view in transverse section of the cranerjboom or jib.

1g..3 is a view in front elevation of the "cpfnstruction shown iii-Fig. 1, parts broken .0

The same reference niniieral designates the same part. wherever it occurs in the-sew eralviews,

In the use :of power operated cranes for handl ng cargoes in loading ornnloading ;boats,f barges,- cars or-the like, fromjor to adjacentdocks,

V v piers, warehouses, freight sheds,'or the-like, it isa common expedient Operate the crane. p 'ri tracks. meanin the edge-of the floor of the'dock, pier, warehouse, freight shed or the like,-and to employ a swinging boom or' jib to effect the transfer or handling of the cargo. The ractical objection to such 'method of han ling and -operating cargo transferring cranes or mechanisms is that the crane obstructs the floor space of'the dock,pier, shed or warehouse, and, whileilthe. jib or boom is capable of being rocked intovertical position. to permit the" crane structure' to be Patented J neio, 1913;

shiftedjfrom one point'to another along its track rails without interference. with the rigging of an adjacent ship, boat, barge or car, and into substantially horizontal position for efi'eotingthe transfer of thecar'go,

it does not extend,'when in working pos1-' tion to any material degree into the dock, pier, shed or warehouse inclosure, so that the cargo must be transported by hand or otherwise on the dock or pier or in the shed or warehouse to a point beyond the protection of the roof thereof for transfer from or by the crane, I

It is among the special p ses of my invention to provide a crane or-handling cargoes at docks, piers, freight sheds, warehouses or the'like, wherein the crane supporting structure is supported in such relation as to leave' the floor of the dock, pier, shed, or the like, entirely unobstructed by the crane or the crane tracks while at the same time, enabling the crane jib or'boom to be rocked into vertical position for shifting the crane from point to point and into substantially horizontal or working position for handling the cargo, and when in its cargo handling positionto extend well into the inclosure or under the roof of the shed, warehouse or building. It is also among -tect from such the special purposes of my present invention to provide the crane structure with roof sections so placed that when the jib is in its operating position the drippings of rain or water from thereof of the building will fall on to said additional roof sections, which are associated with the crane structure, and will be directed thereby to the edge of the dock, pier, freight shed or the like, and prorain or drippings the point at which the crane is in operation.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a travelin crane structure 5, of any suitable or convenient construction and I mount the same upon a supporting frame work 6, 7, which supporting structure may also veniently carry the roof 8, of the pier, dock, warehouse or freight shed, the structure 7, and roof 8, being su ported upon suitable vertical columns, 6, 0 such relation and arrangement as toi 'carry the weight of such supporting structure. At suitable points upon the supporting structure 6, 7 and preferably above the roof 8 thereof, I mount track rails 9, upon which operate the wheels 10 of the cranestructure 5, so that the crane structure may be shifted along said track rails as occasion may require," the track rails 9 being laid in parallel relation with respect to the edge of the dock, other building. Upon the crane structure are mounted suitable motors and associate mechanism 12, through which the operation of the crane mechanism and the shifting of the crane structure are accomplished inthe usual or any convenient or ordinary manner.

The crane jib or boom 13 may be of any suitable or convenient. structure and is sus-.

pended from'the crane structure 5, by suitable hangers 14, which are pivotally connected as at 16, to the crane structure 5,

whereby through the usual or ordinary tackle 17, the jib or boom may be lowered into its operating position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or raised into vertical position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, as occasion may require, the raising and lowering of the jib being accomplished by one of the motor mechanisms 12, in the usual man ner, and being necessary when the crane structure is shifted from one point to another along its supporting tracks 9, in order to clear the supporting columns 6, and the rigging of a shlp or barge lying alongside the dock or pier. Operating longitudinally along the jib 13 is, a truck or carrier 18, carrying hoisting tackle 19, by which freight, merchandise, or other cargo, is to be handled. The hoisting tackle 19, is operated in the usual manner from a motor mechanism 12 on the crane structure. The

. truck 18 is caused to travel fromend to end frame work roof and crane pier, shed, warehouse or noeaees motor mechanism on the crane structure.

In practice, ll prefer to locate the hinge connections 16, of the jib in such relation with respect to the crane structure 5, and its supporting structure 6, 7, and with reference to the length of the jib 13, that when the jib is in position for operation in the handling of cargoes its outer end will extend well over a ship, boat or barge lying alongside the dock or pier, or over a car lying alongside a freight shed, or warehouse, while the inner end of the jib, when in such operating position, extends well under the roof of the building or within the inclosure of the supporting frame work 6, 7 as clearly shown in the drawing. This enables the cargo to be delivered from the ship, barge or car to a point well under the roof of a building, or the transfer of cargo from a point well underthe roof of a building to the ship, barge or car, as the case may be.

The crane structure may employ the usual cage 21, from which the crane operations may be controlled in the usual manner.

In the use; of buildings, particularly on piers, or docks, for freight purposes it is usually necessary to terminate the roof of such building some distance from the edge of the pier or dock alongside of which freight boats, ships or barges are brought forloading or unloading, in order that the roof audits su porting structure maynot interfere with t e rigging of the ship, boat or barge. In such cases a substantial area of dock or pier floor at the extreme outer edge thereof is exposed to rain and the drippings from the roof of the building. In orderto prevent this at a point where a crane embodying my invention is under operation, I propose to mount upon the crane structure, suitable auxiliary roof sections so disposed as to catch the drippings from the roof of the buildin at the location of .the crane, and to con not the same over and beyond the extreme edge of the dock or pier. Such a roof section is indicated at 22, which roof section is mounted over the crane jib with its inner end 23 extending into position to catch drippings from the edge of the .roof 8, when the jib is in position for operation. Similarly other roof sections 24 extending on opposite sides of the jib 13 may be supported by struts or braces 25, in any suitable or convenient manner, from the crane frame work 5, said roof sections 24 extending laterally from the vertical plane of movement of the jib and operating to shed the rain or roof drippings from that portion of the floor of the pier, dock or shed, beneath the point of location of the crane, as well as to protect the operator in the cage 21. These auxiliary roof sections being carried by the crane and movable with it, do not constitute obstructions to the rigging of adjacent ships,

barges or the like and the section 22 of the roof if mounted on or carried by the jib of course rocks or swings with the jib when the latter is raised or lowered.

If desired, and in order to prevent tilting of the crane structure in case anoverbalancing load is imposed upon the boom, or from other cause, I provide the crane structure 5, with an engaging device or hook 26, arranged to engage underneath some convenient part of the supporting structure,

such for instance as the track rail 9 located farthest from the eaves of the roof 8, which engaging device resists any tendency of the crane to tilt under excessive load or strains.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the'floor of the dock, pier, shed or other building is left entirely unobstructed by the crane or the crane tracks, and that when the crane boom or jib is in position for operation the inner end thereof extends well into the building while the other end extends well into position over the ship, barge" or car,- to be loaded or unloaded, while at the same time the floorspace of the dock, ship or other building beneath the point where the crane is in op eration is protected from rain or the drippings from the roof of the building. These are characteristics of my invention which render the same advantageous and expeditious in operation while affording the greatest protection to cargoes while being loaded and unloaded.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention and a construction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus for handling cargoes, an elevated supporting structure, a crane structure wholly supported upon the top of said supporting structure, a swinging boom pivotally suspended intermediate its ends from the crane structure, said boom when in substantially horizontal'position for use having its inner end extending inwardly underneath the supporting structure, and a truck or carrier operating en thwise of said boom from end to end thereof.

2. In an apparatus for handling cargoes, an elevated supporting structure having a roof, a crane structure wholly supported by said supporting structure and above said roof, a vertically swinging boom pivotally suspended intermediate its ends from the crane structure adjacent the edge of the roof,-

whereby when said boom is in substantially horizontal position for use its inner end extends inwardly underneath the roof, and a truck or carrier operating lengthwise of said boom from end to end thereof.

3. In an apparatus for handling cargoes, an elevated structure, a roof therefor, track rails carried above said roof, a crane structure operating along said track rails, a boom pivotally suspended from the crane structure and arranged when in operating position to project atone end underneath the roof, and transferring devices operating along said boom.

4. In an apparatus for handling cargoes, a crane structure, an elevated supporting frame work therefor, a roof carried by said framework, a boom pivotally suspended from the crane structure and an auxiliary roof section carried by the boom.

5. Inan apparatus for handling cargoes, an elevated supporting structure, a roof therefor, a crane structure supported above said roof for movement thereon, a boom pivotally suspended from the crane structure, and an auxiliary roof section carried by the crane structure.

6. In an apparatus for handling cargoes, an elevated supporting structure, a roof therefor, track rails supported above said roof, a crane structure operating on said rails, a boom pivotally suspended from the crane structure, a roof section arranged over said boom, and an additional roof section carried by the crane structure at one side of the boom. V

7. In an apparatus for handling freight, an elevated supporting structure, overhead track rails carried thereby, a crane structure wholly supported upon and operating along said track rails, a vertically swinging boom pivotally suspended intermediate its ends from the crane structure at a pointadjacent the edge of the elevated supporting structure, the inner end of said boom, when in substantially horizontal position for use, extending inwardly underneath the overhead elevated supporting structure and carrier devices carried by and operating lengthwise along said boom.

8. In an apparatus for handling freight,

an elevated supporting structure, overhead track rails carried thereby, a crane structure wholly supported upon and operating along said track rails, a vertically swinging boom pivotally suspended intermediate its ends from the crane structure at a point adjacent the edge of the elevated supporting structure, said boom when in substantially horizontal position for use having its inner end projecting inwardly underneath the overhead elevated supporting structure, a truck or carrier operating along said boom from end to end thereof and an engaging device carried by the crane and engaging underneath one ofthe track rails to prevent tilting of the crane under excessive loads.

9. In an apparatus for handling cargoes, a crane structure, supporting wheels for said structure, said wheels forming a base therefor, a boom depending below and pivotally suspended intermediate its ends from the edge of said crane structure, the inner end of said boom projecting inwardly beneath and Within said base When the boom is in horizontal position for use and a truck or carrier arranged to operate along said boom from end to end thereof. I

10. In an apparatus for handling cargoes, a crane structure, supporting Wheels for said structure, said Wheels forming a base therefor, an overhead support for said wheels, and a boom pivotally suspended intermediate its ends from the edge of said crane structure, said boom when in substantially oeaaee horizontal position for use having its inner end projecting inwardly beneath and Within 15 said base, an a truck or carrier arranged to operate along said boom from end to end thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing 20 Witnesses, on this 23d day of June A. D.

- HARRY 'SAWYER.

Witnesses C. C. HUNICKE, FLoRENcE M. EnENHoLM. 

